Benefits whilst studying after redundancy?

kroeger

I have 29 years of work experience, not 7. I have never been unemployed longer than a couple of weeks since leaving school. I have contributed plenty to the tax payer over the years, so do not appreciate the inference that I would be a sponger thanks.

kroeger

I will be redundant before the summer, and the reality is that there are very few prospects for decent jobs in my area. I could look at the Open University, but I would be looking at 6 years minimum and then trying to gain a position in a new field after that at the age of 53 nearly.

LunaLady

Have you spoken to the college about the funding arrangements?

kroeger

I am confused because I have completed the online benefit calculators on the Government website and others and entering my circumstances as described it lists income support and associated benefits as being payable!!!!

kroeger

I have an interview with the course tutor arranged for this coming wednesday. I will explore all options then. Cheers.

zzzLazyDaisy

kroeger wrote: »

I am confused because I have completed the online benefit calculators on the Government website and others and entering my circumstances as described it lists income support and associated benefits as being payable!!!!

You will be eligible for a student loan when you attend university. Unfortunately this counts as 'student income' for means tested benefits (strange but true).

Edit - just to say, if you are a f/t student you don't count for council tax purposes, so your wife can claim the single householder 25% discount.

FBaby

You are clearly new to the benefit world and seem to think that because you've suddenly be made redundant, you can take a step back and get the state to support your choices after years of paying in. It doesn't work this way. Yes, you have contributed for many years and it might feels that this entitles you to a break when you want one, but it doesn't.

You are reading the benefit calculator wrongly. You cannot, as a couple, claim IS. Even your wife, if she was single could since your youngest child is 11. You would both be expected to work at least 24 hours with one working at least 16, and that is the minimum you could do.

Being on JSA is not what it used to be, that is pretending to be looking for a job whilst enjoying doing what you want to do. They have high expectations of proof that you are indeed looking for work and that is you ultimate priority, way before improving your qualifications, especially when you don't need them to get any job. If you don't comply, they will sanction you. They can also force you to go to interviews for jobs you wouldn't chose for yourself of lose your benefits.

kroeger

Whilst I can see where you are coming, I was not expecting to sit back and do nothing, merely to find a way of completing the course I want to do whilst getting by.

zzzLazyDaisy

FBaby wrote: »

You don't NEED to do this qualification at the expense of the tax payers. You might want to, understandbly, but you can't guarantee it would insure you a better paid job, especially in the current climate.

To be fair, the same could be said of anyone who chooses to study for a degree, there is no guarantee that there will be a job at the end of it.

More to the point, if the govt wanted to prevent people with previous work experience from applying for funding, they would change the rules. If OP meets the eligibility criteria for funding, that is a personal choice for him and his wife to make.

However it is highly unlikely that they will be entitled to much in the way of means tested benefits, if anything, bearing in mind that he will be eligible for a student loan, and she is in paid employment.

kroeger

Having been made redundant twice previously, I am well aware that there is no help available to retrain even when requesting it, (that is my experience, I would bang the drum every time I signed on about help, to no avail) and that you have to sort it out for yourself. I am quite prepared to fund the course fees out of my redundancy payment.